He was born Lucien Ginzburg in Paris, France, the son of Jewish Russian parents who fled to France after the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee from Paris. He had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, with English singer and actress Jane Birkin; and a son, Lulu, with his last partner, Bambou (Caroline Von Paulus, who is related to Friedrich Paulus). Before he was 30 years old, Lucien Ginsburg was a disillusioned painter but earned his living as a piano player in bars. Daughter Charlotte would later become an actress and singer.
His early songs were influenced by Boris Vian and were largely in the vein of "old-fashioned" chanson. Very early, however, Gainsbourg began to move beyond this and experiment with a succession of different musical styles: jazz early on, English pop in the 60's, reggae in the 70's, even hip-hop in the 80's.
Success began to arrive when, in 1965, his song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" was the Luxembourg entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Performed by French teen singer France Gall, it won the grand prize. (The song was covered in English as "A Lonely Singing Doll" by British teen idol Twinkle.) He arranged other Gall songs and LPs that were characteristic of the late 1960s psychedelic styles, among them Gall's '1968' album. Another of Serge's songs "Boum Bada Boum" was entered in by Monaco in the 1967 contest, sung by Minouche Barelli; It came 5th.
In 1969, he released what would become his most famous song in the English-speaking world, "Je t'aime... moi non plus", which featured simulated sounds of female orgasm. The song appeared that year on an LP, "Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg". Originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot, it was released with future girlfriend Birkin when Bardot backed out. While Gainsbourg declared it the "ultimate love song," it was considered too "hot"; the song was censored in various countries, and in France, even the toned-down version was suppressed. Even the Vatican made a public statement citing the song as offensive. Its notoriety led it to reaching no. 1 in the UK singles chart. A long-standing rumor maintains that Gainsbourg and Birkin were actually having sex during the recording session (asked about it in an interview, Gainsbourg answered that if this was true, the song would have lasted longer than 4 minutes).
The seventies
His most influential work came near the start of the seventies with Histoire de Melody Nelson, released in 1971. This concept album, produced and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier, tells the story of a Lolita-esque affair, with Gainsbourg as the narrator and Jane Birkin as the eponymous English heroine. It features prominent string arrangements and even a massed choir at its tragic climax. At the time, sales were poor, but the album has proven influential with artists such as Air, David Holmes and Beck.
In 1975, he released the album Rock Around the Bunker, a rock album written entirely on the subject of the Nazis. Gainsbourg used black humour, as he and his family suffered during World War II. While a child in Paris, Gainsbourg himself had worn the Yellow badge as the mark of a Jew.
The next year saw the release of another major work, L'Homme à la Tête de Chou (Cabbage-Head Man), featuring the new character Marilou and sumptuous orchestral themes.
In Jamaica in 1978 he recorded "Aux Armes et cetera," a reggae version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar and Rita Marley. This song earned him death threats from right-wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence who were opposed to certain lyrics. Shortly afterwards, Gainsbourg bought the original manuscript of La Marseillaise. He was able to reply to his critics that his version was, in fact, closer to the original as the manuscript clearly shows the words "Aux armes et cætera..." for the chorus.
The next year saw him in the new look of Gainsbarre, officially introduced in the song "Ecce Homo."
Final years
In the 1980's, approaching the end of his life, Gainsbourg became a regular figure on French TV. His appearances seemed devoted to his controversial sense of humour and provocation. He would frequently show up drunk and unshaven on stage. Perhaps his most famous incident came when, on Michel Drucker's live Saturday evening show with the American singer Whitney Houston, he exclaimed, "I want to fuck her."
During this period he released Love On The Beat and his last studio album, You're Under Arrest, (which saw him adapt his style to the hip-hop genre), as well as two live recordings. His third and last Eurovision Song Contest entry came in 1990 with the French entry "White and Black Blues", sung by Joëlle Ursull. It came second in a tie with Ireland. His songs became increasingly eccentric in this period, ranging from the anti-drug "Les Enfants de la Chance" to the duet with his daughter Charlotte called "Lemon Incest (Un zeste de citron)." The title of the latter demonstrates Gainsbourg's love of puns (another example is "Bowie, Beau oui comme Bowie").
Discography :
1958 : Du Chant À La Une !
1959 : Serge Gainsbourg N°2
1961 : L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg
1962 : Serge Gainsbourg N° 4
1963 : Gainsbourg Confidentiel
1964 : Gainsbourg Percussions
1968 : Initials B.B.
1968 : Bonnie And Clyde ( with Brigitte Bardot )
1969 : Jane Birkin-Serge Gainsbourg
1971 : Histoire de Melody Nelson ( with Jane Birkin )
1973 : Vu de l'extérieur
1975 : Rock around the bunker
1976 : L'Homme à tête de chou
1979 : Aux armes et cætera
1981 : Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles
1984 : Love on the Beat
1987 : You're Under Arrest
Je t'aime...moi non plus
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh oui, je t'aime
Moi non plus
Oh, mon amour
Comme la vague irrésolue
Je vais, je vais et je viens
Entre tes reins
Je vais et je viens
Et je me retiens
Je t'aime, je t'aime
Oh oui, je t'aime
Moi non plus
Oh, mon amour
Tu es la vague, moi l'île nue
Tu vas, tu vas et tu viens
Entre mes reins
Tu vas et tu viens
Entre mes reins
Et je te rejoins
Je t'aime, je t'aime
Oh oui, je t'aime
Moi non plus
Oh, mon amour
Comme une vague irrésolue
Je vais, je vais et je viens
Entre tes reins
Je vais et je viens
Entre tes reins
Je me retiens
Tu vas, tu vas et tu viens
Entre mes reins
Tu vas et tu viens
Entre mes reins
Et je te rejoins
Je t'aime, je t'aime
Oh oui, je t'aime
Moi non plus
Oh, mon amour
L'amour physique est sans issue
Je vais, je vais et je viens
Entre tes reins
Je vais et je viens
Je me retiens
Non, maintenant
Viens
The song, "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Serge Gainsbourg, is a classic romantic song with explicit lyrics that explore the physical intimacy between two lovers. The lyrics are sung by Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, his romantic partner at the time, who both deliver passionate and breathy vocals. In the first verse, Gainsbourg proclaims his love for Birkin, expressing his desire for her, while also stating "moi non plus" (me neither), indicating that Birkin may not feel the same way. This creates an element of tension and uncertainty in the relationship, as Gainsbourg suggests that his love may not be reciprocated.
The chorus features both Gainsbourg and Birkin singing passionately about their physical connection, using the metaphor of waves and the movement between their bodies. The lyrics are explicit and provocative, suggesting a level of intimacy that borders on taboo. The bridge of the song takes a more philosophical turn, with Gainsbourg questioning the limits of physical intimacy and suggesting that it may be futile or without resolution.
Overall, the lyrics of "Je t'aime... moi non plus" are a complex exploration of love and physical desire, with a level of ambiguity that leaves the listener questioning the true nature of the relationship between Gainsbourg and Birkin.
Line by Line Meaning
Je t'aime, je t'aime
I love you, I love you deeply
Oh oui, je t'aime
Oh yes, I love you
Moi non plus
But I don't love you as much
Oh, mon amour
Oh, my love
Comme la vague irrésolue
Like the uncertain wave
Je vais, je vais et je viens
I go, I go and I come
Entre tes reins
Between your loins
Je vais et je viens
I go and I come
Entre tes reins
Between your loins
Et je me retiens
And I restrain myself
Tu es la vague, moi l'île nue
You are the wave, I'm the naked island
Tu vas, tu vas et tu viens
You go, you go and you come
Entre mes reins
Between my loins
Tu vas et tu viens
You go and you come
Entre mes reins
Between my loins
Et je te rejoins
And I join you
Comme une vague irrésolue
Like the uncertain wave
Je vais, je vais et je viens
I go, I go and I come
Entre tes reins
Between your loins
Je vais et je viens
I go and I come
Entre tes reins
Between your loins
Je me retiens
I restrain myself
Tu vas, tu vas et tu viens
You go, you go and you come
Entre mes reins
Between my loins
Tu vas et tu viens
You go and you come
Entre mes reins
Between my loins
Et je te rejoins
And I join you
L'amour physique est sans issue
Physical love is hopeless
Non, maintenant
No, not now
Viens
Come
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rinchandesuu
Paroles:
Je t'aime
oh, oui je t'aime!
moi non plus
oh, mon amour...
comme la vague irrésolu
je vais je vais et je viens
entre tes reins
et je
me retiens-je t'aime je t'aime
oh, oui je t'aime!
moi non plus
oh mon amour...
tu es la vague, moi l'île nue
tu va et tu viens
entre mes reins
tu vas et tu viens
entre mes reins
et je
te rejoins- je t'aime je t'aime
moi non plus
oh, mon amour...
comme la vague irrésolu
je vais je vais et je viens
entre tes reins
et je
me retiens
tu va et tu viens
entre mes reins
tu vas et tu viens
entre mes reins
et je
te rejoins- je t'aime je t'aime
oh, oui je t'aime!
moi non plus
oh mon amour...
l'amour physique est sans issue
je vais et je viens
entre tes reins
je vais et je viens
et je me retiens
non! main-
tenant
Viens!
@tobiasmeinecke6144
Rest in peace, dear Jane Birkin. Thanks for what you gave to the world.❣🌺
@HaraldKellerwessel-up7mq
RIP, Jane Birkin. Das Skandallied "Je T'aime" habe ich - wie so viele - in meiner Jugend geliebt.
@pablopirizgiagnacovo4988
La verdad que está actriz fue una belleza en su juventud y la cantante muy erótica
@catholiccowboy8545
.. lol.. to the world ??!!! .. wow !
@bevcoatham6462
I was so shocked to see that she has died RIP Jane I’ll never forget you 😢😢
@Francesca-sv4tx
Merci Jane RIP😢🙏🙏🙏
@birkenmoor
RIP Jane Birkin!
My all-time-favorite french song.
@SmugSmuggler
Now she is reunited with Serge Gainsbourg again. May they rest in peace.
@bevcoatham6462
Yes same here 🥲 forever in our hearts xxx
@ingeh.9604
Absolutely yes